LA Times Crossword Answers 27 Aug 14, Wednesday

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CROSSWORD SETTER: Gareth Bain
THEME: T-Tops … today’s themed answers all start with a word that often follows the letter T:

3D. *Hearty repast SQUARE MEAL (giving “T-square”)
9D. *”Politically Incorrect” host BILL MAHER (giving “T-bill”)
31D. *Sensitivity to cashews, say NUT ALLERGY (giving “T-nut”)
35D. *Fine porcelain BONE CHINA (giving “T-bone”)

29D. Sporty car roofs, and, literally, what the first words of the answers to starred clues can have T-TOPS

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 10m 23s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

1. Bygone U.S. station name ESSO
The brand name Esso has its roots in the old Standard Oil company as it uses the initial letters of “Standard” and “Oil” (ESS-O). The Esso brand was replaced by Exxon in the US, but ESSO is still used in many other countries.

13. Chef’s hat TOQUE
A toque was a brimless style of hat that was very fashionable in Europe in the 13th to 16th centuries. Nowadays we associate toques with chefs, as it is the name given to a chef’s hat (called a “toque blanche” in French, a “white hat”). A chef’s toque is quite interesting. Many toques have exactly 100 pleats, often said to signify the number of ways that an egg can be cooked.

16. Java Freeze brand ICEE
Icee and Slurpee are brand names of those slushy drinks. Ugh …

17. Lies next to ABUTS
“Abut” comes from the Old French word “abouter” meaning “join end to end”.

18. In __: actually ESSE
The Latin term “in esse” is used to mean “actually existing”, and translates as “in being”.

25. Chowder morsel CLAM
The type of soup known as “chowder” may be named for the pot in which it used to be cooked called a “chaudière”, a French term.

26. Pre-A.D. BCE
The designations Anno Domini (AD, “year of Our Lord”) and Before Christ (BC) are found in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The dividing point between AD and BC is the year of the conception of Jesus, with AD 1 following 1 BC without a year “0” in between. The AD/BC scheme dates back to AD 525, and gained wide acceptance soon after AD 800. Nowadays a modified version has become popular, with CE (Common/Christian Era) used to replace AD, and BCE (Before the Common/Christian Era) used to replace BC.

28. Portable Asian dwellings YURTS
A yurt is a wood-framed dwelling that is used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. Although a yurt is a substantial structure, it is of course extremely portable.

34. Gyro meat LAMB
A gyro is a traditional Greek dish, a sandwich made with pita bread containing meat, tomato, onion and tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber sauce). The meat for gyros is usually roasted on a tall vertical spit and is sliced from the spit as required. The name “gyro” comes from the modern Greek word “gyros” meaning “circle”, a reference to the meat turning as it is grilled in a rotating circular motion.

38. McFlurry option OREO
The McFlurry is the ice cream dessert from McDonald’s. Cleverly, a McFlurry is mixed on a machine with the mixing blade then doubling as a spoon with which one eats it.

41. Italian hot spot ETNA
Mt. Etna is the largest of three active volcanoes in Italy. Mt Etna is about 2 1/2 times the height of its equally famous sister, Mt. Vesuvius. The third of the trio is Stromboli.

44. Quill, perhaps PEN
Quills have been used as writing implements since the 6th century. Historically, goose, swan and turkey feathers have been the quills of choice. A bird’s feather is well suited for writing, as the hollow shaft acts as a reservoir for ink which then flows to the tip due to capillary action. Choice of feather is important. Right-handed writers are best served by feathers from the left wing, as the feather curves away from the palm of the hand when writing. The tip of the quill is sharpened using a “quill knife”. This quill knife is the ancestor of what we know today as a “penknife”.

46. Clark Kent, at birth KAL-EL
Jor-El was a scientist on the planet Krypton who was married to Lara. Jor-El and Lara had an infant son named Kal-El who they were able to launch into space towards Earth just before Krypton was destroyed. Kal-El became Superman. In the 1978 movie “Superman”, Jor-El was played by Marlon Brando, Lara was played by Susannah York, and Kal-El/Superman was of course played by Christopher Reeve.

47. Son of Sarah ISAAC
According to the Hebrew Bible, Isaac was the only son of Abraham, born to his wife Sarah when she was beyond her childbearing years and when Abraham was 100 years old. Isaac himself lived until he was 180 years old. When Isaac was just a youth, Abraham was tested by Yahweh (God) and told to build an altar on which he was to sacrifice his only son. At the last minute an angel appeared and stopped Abraham, telling him to sacrifice a ram instead.

49. Gettysburg Campaign VIP LEE
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of engagements during the Civil War that led to the largest battle of the whole war. General Robert E. Lee moved north with the Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland and Pennsylvania, with the defending Union Army of the Potomac being led by Major General Joseph Hooker, and then by Major General George Meade. The final battle in the campaign, the Battle of Gettysburg, resulted in Lee ordering a retreat of Confederate forces that began on July 4th, 1863.

52. East Asian capital SEOUL
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. The Seoul National Capital Area is home to over 25 million people and is the second largest metropolitan area in the world, second only to Tokyo, Japan.

58. Oldest of the Stooges SHEMP
If you’ve seen a few of the films starring “The Three Stooges” you’ll have noticed that the line up changed over the years. The original trio was made up of Moe and Shemp Howard (two brothers) and Larry Fine (a good friend of the Howards). This line up was usually known as “Moe, Larry and Shemp”. Then Curly Howard replaced his brother when Shemp quit the act, creating the most famous trio, “Moe, Larry And Curly”. Shemp returned when Curly had a debilitating stroke in 1946, and Shemp stayed with the troupe until he died in 1955. Shemp was replaced by Joe Besser, and then “Curly-Joe” DeRita. When Larry Fine had a stroke in 1970, it effectively marked the end of the act.

61. Amos at the piano TORI
Tori Amos is an American pianist and singer. Amos started playing the piano at two years old, and was composing piano pieces by age five. She was playing in piano bars (chaperoned by her father) when she was 14. I’m going to have to find some of her music (I lead such a sheltered life …)!

62. Early Genesis brother ABEL
Adam and Eve’s children were Cain and Abel, two estranged brothers.

65. Anti-leather gp. PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a very large animal rights organization, with 300 employees and two million members and supporters worldwide. Although the group campaigns for animal rights across a broad spectrum of issues, it has a stated focus in opposition of four practices:

– factory farming
– fur farming
– animal testing
– use of animals in entertainment

67. Chichén Itzá builder MAYA
Chichén Itzá is a Mayan ruin located in the Mexican state of Yucatán. It is the second most visited archaeological site in the country (after the ancient city of Teotihuacan). Chichén Itzá has seen a surge in the number of visitors since the development of nearby Cancún as a tourist destination.

68. KFC side SLAW
The term “coleslaw” is an Anglicized version of the Dutch name “koolsla”, which in itself is a shortened form of “Koolsalade” meaning “cabbage salad”.

The famous “Colonel” of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame was Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur from Henryville, Indiana. Although not really a “Colonel”, Sanders did indeed serve in the military. He enlisted in the Army as a private in 1906 at the age of 16, lying about his age. He spent the whole of his time in the Army as a soldier in Cuba. It was much later, in the 1930s, that Sanders went into the restaurant business making his specialty deep-fried chicken. By 1935 his reputation as a “character” had grown, so much so that Governor Ruby Laffoon of Kentucky gave Sanders the honorary title of “Kentucky Colonel”. Later in the fifties, Sanders developed his trademark look with the white suit, string tie, mustache and goatee. When Sanders was 65 however, his business failed and in stepped Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s. Thomas simplified the Sanders menu, cutting it back from over a hundred items to just fried chicken and salads. That was enough to launch KFC into the fast food business. Sanders sold the US franchise in 1964 for just $2 million and moved to Canada to grow KFC north of the border. He died in 1980 and is buried in Louisville, Kentucky. The Colonel’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices is indeed a trade secret. Apparently there is only one copy of the recipe, a handwritten piece of paper, written in pencil and signed by Colonel Sanders. Since 2009, the piece of paper has been locked in a computerized vault surrounded with motion detectors and security cameras.

69. London’s __ Park HYDE
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London. A famous element in Hyde Park is Speakers’ Corner, located in the northeast corner of the park. Speakers’ Corner was the site of the infamous Tyburn gallows that was used for public executions in centuries past. Today, Speakers’ Corner is a site for public speeches and debate, and a center for public protest. Some say that the tradition of allowing free speech at the site dates back to the condemned man being allowed to say his piece prior to execution at the Tyburn gallows.

Down
2. Maker of Lifewater beverages SOBE
The brand name SoBe can be found on teas, juices and bottled waters. SoBe is an abbreviation for South Beach, the neighborhood in Miami Beach, Florida.

3. *Hearty repast SQUARE MEAL (giving “T-square”)
A T-square is a technical drawing instrument used for drawing horizontal lines. You can also get a drywall T-square, which is used in measuring and cutting drywall.

Our word “repast”, meaning “meal”. came to us via French (in which language “repas” is “meal”). Ultimately the term comes from the Latin “repascere” meaning “to repeatedly graze”.

6. “Poppycock!” BOSH!
Our word “bosh” meaning nonsense came into English via a well-defined route. It was first used in the novel “Ayesha, the Maid of Kars” written by J. J. Morier in 1905, and is a Turkish word that literally translates as “empty”.

It is thought that the relatively gentle term “poppycock” comes from a Dutch word for “dung” combined with a Latin word for “excrete”. Not so gentle after all …

9. *”Politically Incorrect” host BILL MAHER (giving “T-bill”)
Bill Maher is a stand-up comedian and political commentator. Maher has an HBO television show called “Real Time with Bill Maher” which is essentially a follow-on from the very successful “Politically Incorrect” program that started out on Comedy Central.

A Treasury note (T-Note) is a government debt that matures in 1-10 years. A T-Note has a coupon (interest) payment made every six months. The T-note is purchased at a discount to face value, and at the date of maturity can be redeemed at that face value. A T-Bill is a similar financial vehicle, but it matures in one year or less, and a T-Bond matures in 20-30 years.

10. Berry sold in health food shops ACAI
Açaí is a palm tree native to Central and South America. The fruit has become very popular in recent years and its juice is a very fashionable addition to juice mixes and smoothies.

12. Fake in the rink DEKE
A deke, also known as a dangle, is a technique used to get past an opponent in ice hockey. “Deke” is a colloquial shortening of the word “decoy”.

22. Rhett’s last word DAMN
In Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone with the Wind”, when Rhett Butler finally walks out on Scarlett O’Hara he utters the words “My dear, I don’t give a damn”. Most of us are more familiar with the slightly different words spoken by Clark Gable in the film adaption of the story: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

27. “Cheers” waitress Tortelli CARLA
Rhea Perlman’s most famous role has to be “Carla Tortelli”, the irascible waitress in the long-running sitcom “Cheers”. Perlman is also a successful children’s author, and has published a series of six books called “Otto Undercover”. She is of course married to Hollywood actor Danny DeVito, and has been so since 1982. The couple went through a separation in 2012/2013 but happily are reconciled and back together again.

29. Sporty car roofs, and, literally, what the first words of the answers to starred clues can have T-TOPS
A T-top is a car roof that has removable panels on either side of a rigid bar that runs down the center of the vehicle above the driver.

31. *Sensitivity to cashews, say NUT ALLERGY (giving “T-nut”)
A T-nut is so called because it has a T-shape when viewed from the side.

32. Bert’s roommate ERNIE
I’ve always believed that the “Sesame Street” characters Bert and Ernie were named after two roles played in the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”. In the movie, the policeman’s name is Bert and his taxi-driving buddy is named Ernie. However, the “Sesame Street” folks have stated that the use of the same names is just a coincidence.

35. *Fine porcelain BONE CHINA (giving “T-bone”)
“Bone china” is so called as bone ash is a key component. The first commercially successful bone china was developed by Josiah Spode in Stoke, England.

37. Radii neighbors ULNAE
The radius and ulna are bones in the forearm. If you hold the palm of your hand up in front of you, the radius is the bone on the “thumb-side” of the arm, and the ulna is the bone on the “pinkie-side”.

47. “Eva Luna” author Allende ISABEL
Isabel Allende is a Chilean writer, apparently the world’s most widely-read, Spanish-language author. Isabel is related to Salvador Allende, the ex-President of Chile.

51. Scoreless Words With Friends turns SWAPS
“Words With Friends” is a word game application that can be played on smart phones and other electronic devices. “Words With Friends” is basically Scrabble under a different name, I hear.

54. Couple in the news ITEM
An unmarried couple known to be involved with each other might appear in the gossip columns. This appearance as “an item” in the papers, led to the use of “item” to refer to such a couple, but only since the very early seventies.

55. Old Chevy NOVA
The Chevrolet Nova was produced by General Motors from 1962 to 1979, and from 1985 to 1988. We owned one of those 1985-1988 Novas. Those latter models were actually Toyota Sprinters that were assembled just down the road here in Fremont, California in a GM/Toyota joint venture.

56. “South Park” co-creator Parker TREY
Trey Parker is one of the co-creators of “South Park” the animated television show, along with Matt Stone.

59. Ancient drink making a comeback MEAD
Mead is a lovely drink, made from fermented honey and water.

60. Paris pop PERE
In French, a father (père) is a member of the family (membre de la famille).

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Bygone U.S. station name ESSO
5. Subsides EBBS
9. Parade group BAND
13. Chef’s hat TOQUE
15. Rich topsoil LOAM
16. Java Freeze brand ICEE
17. Lies next to ABUTS
18. In __: actually ESSE
19. Cry out for LACK
20. Plays first, in some card games LEADS
21. Innocent CHILDLIKE
23. Comedy Central send-up ROAST
25. Chowder morsel CLAM
26. Pre-A.D. BCE
28. Portable Asian dwellings YURTS
30. Horses’ tresses MANES
34. Gyro meat LAMB
36. Portable bed COT
37. Without even a scratch UNHURT
38. McFlurry option OREO
39. Rounded hill KNOLL
41. Italian hot spot ETNA
42. Sounds echoing through the castle CLANGS
44. Quill, perhaps PEN
45. Commuter’s option RAIL
46. Clark Kent, at birth KAL-EL
47. Son of Sarah ISAAC
49. Gettysburg Campaign VIP LEE
50. Use profanity CUSS
52. East Asian capital SEOUL
54. Where it’ll all come out? IN THE WASH
58. Oldest of the Stooges SHEMP
61. Amos at the piano TORI
62. Early Genesis brother ABEL
63. Stooges count THREE
64. All tied up EVEN
65. Anti-leather gp. PETA
66. Sweetie SUGAR
67. Chichén Itzá builder MAYA
68. KFC side SLAW
69. London’s __ Park HYDE

Down
1. And others, in citations: Abbr. ET AL
2. Maker of Lifewater beverages SOBE
3. *Hearty repast SQUARE MEAL (giving “T-square”)
4. Surpass OUTDO
5. It can’t help being negative ELECTRON
6. “Poppycock!” BOSH!
7. ABCs BASICS
8. Detect, in a way SMELL
9. *”Politically Incorrect” host BILL MAHER (giving “T-bill”)
10. Berry sold in health food shops ACAI
11. Giraffe’s trademark NECK
12. Fake in the rink DEKE
14. Test type you can’t really guess on ESSAY
22. Rhett’s last word DAMN
24. Lures (in) SUCKS
26. Inhibit BLOCK
27. “Cheers” waitress Tortelli CARLA
29. Sporty car roofs, and, literally, what the first words of the answers to starred clues can have T-TOPS
31. *Sensitivity to cashews, say NUT ALLERGY (giving “T-nut”)
32. Bert’s roommate ERNIE
33. Old STALE
35. *Fine porcelain BONE CHINA (giving “T-bone”)
37. Radii neighbors ULNAE
40. Legislation pertaining to dogs LEASH LAW
43. Stuff to stick with? GLUE
47. “Eva Luna” author Allende ISABEL
48. Goes for COSTS
51. Scoreless Words With Friends turns SWAPS
53. “That’s correct” UH-HUH
54. Couple in the news ITEM
55. Old Chevy NOVA
56. “South Park” co-creator Parker TREY
57. __ good example SET A
59. Ancient drink making a comeback MEAD
60. Paris pop PERE

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